Homemade gourmet olives are simple to make. A small batch is perfect for fancy snacking, entertaining or gifting.
Hello friends! I have two things for you today, one delicious and one beautiful. First, with the busiest entertaining season of the year just around the corner, I thought I would share one of my favourite appetizers with you.
Personally I love appetizers (see more here and here). If I could eat just breakfast and appetizers every day I’d be a happy girl. Plus maybe dessert. Sometimes when I eat out I’ll just order a few appetizers instead of an entree and call it dinner. Then order dessert. Gourmet olives especially are a bit of an addiction of mine. If they are on the menu I’ll probably order them. Lately I’ve been seeing them in the grocery store deli section too, in lovely flavours like basil, bay leaf, lemon and garlic.
They’re pretty simple to make at home, and so you can play with the flavours that you like. Make them in a small batch to snack on, put out with a tapas spread, or for a cocktail party. The recipe for one of my favourite combinations of rosemary and orange is below.
And can we all admire this gorgeous classic marble cutting board I received from Ten Thousand Villages? There’s something great about a practical item like a cutting board that’s beautiful enough to use for the presentation of the food as well. If you’re lucky enough to have shopped in a Ten Thousand Villages store, then you’ll already know about the unique and beautiful products they carry. Everything is handcrafted by makers in marginalized communities around the world.
If you're not familiar, then you may be surprised when you check their online shop. You’ll find a wide variety of products from classic to modern to eclectic and bohemian. Ten Thousand Villages' mission is to create opportunities for artisans in developing countries to earn income by bringing their products and stories to our markets through long-term, fair trading relationships. So you can feel great about your purchases which support the makers' craft and help provide them a stable income. Take a look for more stunning kitchen and entertaining ware.
Homemade Gourmet Olives Recipe
Ingredients:
2 cups assorted olives
2-3 tablespoons good olive oil
a few sprigs of fresh rosemary
one garlic clove, sliced
2-3 small pieces of orange peel or thin slices of orange
a big pinch (to taste) of crushed red pepper flakes
2-3 tablespoons good olive oil
a few sprigs of fresh rosemary
one garlic clove, sliced
2-3 small pieces of orange peel or thin slices of orange
a big pinch (to taste) of crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions:
1. Drain and rinse the olives, set aside in a small bowl.
2. Combine the remaining ingredients in a small saucepan over very low heat.
3. Heat through, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes.
4. Pour the olive oil infusion over the olives. Mix together until the olives are coated.
5. Spread the olive mixture onto a baking sheet in a thin layer. Bake at 350° for about 20 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Thank you to Ten Thousand Villages for partnering with me on this post. All ideas and opinions are completely my own.